Interview with Damian Lillard - "Staying fearless and confident are key to making a last-second shot"

Damian Lillard, Point Guard, Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard is one of the brightest young point guards in the NBA, and has been crucial to Portland Trail Blazers’ rise under coach Terry Stots in the last three seasons. The 24-year-old Lillard, who averages 20 points and 6 assists per game, is a two-time All Star (2013-14 and 2014-15) and was also the Rookie of the Year in the 2012-13 season.

He spoke to Sportskeeda on the Blazers’ season so far, their playoff hopes, competition in the NBA and the effect of the NBA outreach program in countries like India.

With your great home record this season, how important has it been to you guys to secure home court advantage for the first round. Does last year give you theconfidence to go do it again on the road if you don’t get wins at home?

We have had a great season at home so far and I think we have done a big thing for ourselves, giving us the opportunity to start the playoffs at home court which is one of our goals. But, I also think that after what we did last year work out, we’re confident and we think that if we do have go on the road, we can do it.

What is the biggest lesson you have learnt in the last 4 seasons that you will be taking to this year's playoffs?

The biggest thing is to stay in the moment. We got off to a 2-0 lead on road last year and it was very easy for us to get complacent, but we stay focussed and we figured out what we needed to do to win it at the first chance we had to win it.

The best lesson was playing against the San Antonio Spurs. I think they showed us a great example of the brand of basketball we need to play to be champions. I think we took a lot back from that series.

The Western Conference is very competitive, and it looks like every single playoff team from the West from 1 to 8 has a good chance to win in a seven-game series. Is there any team you prefer to face in the first round, any particular match-up?

There are no real preferences. Like you said, the West is incredibly tough, and you have to be ready for all challenges, no matter what series you are playing. I think every team provides a different type of challenge. It’s going to be a fight and our team has accepted that. We just have to go out there and be ready for whoever. I don’t have a preference who I would like to play against and I am not opposed to playing against anybody.

How do you feel about the development of basketball in India and what are your views about players like Sim Bhullar in the NBA?

I think the development of basketball is growing all around the world. In India, I’m sure there is a lot of hidden talent because of the way the sport is growing and kids have definitely been picking up the ball earlier. I’m excited to see it growing and I am sure it’s same in India. I have to say that the fact that the game is evolving and becoming so impactful in other countries like India is very encouraging.

Point guards are hot property right now, with players like Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose (whenever he is playing) all thriving. Do you think it’s time for small players to take the limelight and big centres to take a back seat?

I wouldn’t say anybody deserves to be in limelight or anybody should take a back seat. I think the best players are going to be best players. I think the point guard position just happens to be one with a lot of talent right now, like a golden age of point guards. Every team has a tough point guard. So I wouldn’t say anybody has to take a back seat. I think everybody recognises, top to bottom that point guards are tough in the league.

Lillard's last second 3-pointer that helped Portland defeat Houston in the playoffs last season

It seems like only a few players are born with a clutch gene. What do you think it takes for you to have that?

I think it takes confidence. You have to be fearless and can't be afraid of missing the shot and that’s what it is. You have to be a believer, you have got to be someone putting in the time to thrive in those moments. Without confidence and if you are scared to miss and of failure, you don’t have a chance.

Portland have the record of the most double digit comebacks this season so far. Do you think that is something that gives you comfort when you go into the playoffs considering you have to play games on the road and home regularly?

Yes, I think our team at playing from behind and getting back ourselves in the game is definitely one of the best. We get a lot of confidence from the fact that we know that in this situations, we can make it a game and we can give ourselves a chance to win it and going forward into playoffs, that is something we have in our pocket.

We know you are a big music fan. What are your plans for the offseason?

This summer I plan on trying to make time to put out a mix tape and maybe put out an album. Music is another one of my passions. But, we have the playoffs coming up so we have to focus on that right now.

How happy are you with the team right now? Are you happy with the kind of style you are playing and are you confident going into the playoffs?

I am really happy right now with how we are playing. We had a 5-game losing streak when things were going south. We changed what we were doing, our defence tightened up, offensively we started doing the right things and now, we are on a 4-game winning streak. I feel good about the way we playing going into playoffs.

With Wesley Matthews going down, what adjustments have you made that have worked and how do you feel the team is getting on?

Obviously, it is very tough because he is the heart and soul of our team, a big part of what we do on both ends of the floor. But I think the trade that we made to get Afflalo and Alonzo Gee in have made it easier for us to deal with. I don’t think you can replace Wes Matthews, but having people that make our team comfortable being without team is also helpful.

I think that’s where Alonzo Gee and Afflalo have definitely become very important and they have fit in really well. I still think we are a top team that’s capable of getting it done this season. I think our team is taking on the challenge and we are still playing with confidence.

Do you happen to be a boxing fan? If yes, do you have a prediction for the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao?

I am a boxing fan and I respect Pacquiao as a boxer, but I'm a Mayweather fan. I’m not just saying because he is undefeated and probably the best pound for pound boxer ever. I am a fan of his work ethic. You hear a lot about his trash talking and how flashy he is but I think anybody that works as hard as him, they deserve to be as successful as him. I really respect his work ethic and so I think because of that he might come out on top.

Coach Terry Stots recently registered his 250th NBA career win. What are the most significant things you have learnt from him?

Playing for him has made my career what it is. I just learned sometimes you haveto put people in to a fight. From day 1, he just put me out there, he let me make mistakes and let me run into mistakes and let me grow from things. I learnt that sometimes if you have to grow, you have to burn first, you have to pay first and that’s how I learnt.

It was a bit of struggle at first, and because he allowed me to do that and put me in that position, I was allowed to have a good 2^nd year and then had a good 3rd year and that’s the biggest lesson I have learnt from him.

You have talked about the ability of making a clutch shot. If you need to pick three players for making a clutch shot, who would they be, and why?

Stephen Curry, James Harden and Kevin Durant, because I have seen all three of them play and they are very confident when it comes to taking a clutch shot.

How important has LaMarcus Aldridge delaying surgery and Robin Lopez coming back from injury been to the Trail Blazers’ ambitions for the playoff this season?

It’s been huge, those are our two starting big men. LA is our best player. Him deciding to delay his surgery was extremely selfless on his part. I think RoLo just puts our team together, and a huge part of what we do on both ends of the floor. I really appreciate what he does for our team. Having the two of them back has been crucial.

Portland’s defense has really improved this year, as has your rebounding. Is that something you have been consciously working on or is it something that is coming naturally as you are growing in NBA?

Our team is one of the better defensive rebounding teams this year. That is because our guards have put emphasis on coming back and helping our rebounders. There are lot of times where teams give up offensive rebounds because the bigs are trying to protect the rim and the opposition’s guards come looking for the ball. We emphasize coming back and helping our rebounders.

What is more satisfying, to quiet an away crowd or spark the home crowd?

I would rather quiet the away crowd.

What do you think is different about Oakland and how the city has been able to bring in quality point guards?

I think it has a lot with the toughness and the competition that we have to play with. What we have to deal with while growing up there is different and is the ghetto way of playing basketball and I think that’s why you see a lot of point guards from there become successful.

Do you feel bad about not making it to the USA basketball team last year? If you get back into the pool, will you be open to representing the USA in future competitions?

I am not sure. I think if they wanted me in that team, I would have already been on it last summer, so I am not sure.

You are looking at a potential playoff match-up with the Los Angeles clippers. What do you think they offer as a threat and how do you plan to cope up with that?

They have got a lot of really good players in Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford, JJ Reddick, Matt Barnes, you go down the line and they have a really tough team. But I think knowing those guys and what they can do offensively is that we can focus on the way they guard pick and rolls. We run a lot of pick and rolls with me and LaMarcus and Robin, they trap everytime I've played them, so it will be a bit of challenge locating the traps trying to figure out the channels.

Who was your idol growing up and whom you later played against in the NBA?

I was a huge Derrick Rose fan and a huge Steve Nash fan. If I have to pick one, I would say Steve Nash. Growing in the Bay Area, you knew who Steve Nash was from when he played in Santa Clara. Now I had an opportunity to play against him, it was crazy.

Lillard won the Skills Challenge during the 2013-14 NBA All-Star weekend

In your first season, you were the Rookie of the Year, and an All-Star in your second and third seasons. Is it easy to motivate yourself after all that?

When you have peers like mine, so many high level point guards, you want to be considered one of the best. It’s a constant job and you are constantly working at your game and you are constantly trying to will your team to win so that you can be in that elite company. So, it is easy to motivate myself.

I haven’t won a Championship yet, there are lot of things unaccomplished, so I’m still early in my career and I have got a lot to be better at many things and a lot needs to be accomplished.

How would you describe your growth in these three seasons?

I think I have got better in general. My whole career has been about making improvements each year and so far I have been able to do that.

Your signature shoeline was launched recently. Can you tell us what that means to you and how you can express yourself through those shoes? And also what it means to you to have that line?

It means a lot, just having your own shoes and not many guys get that opportunity. I’m honoured and blessed about the same. What happened with the pricing was that I have played in the Crazylight Boost, which is great shoe. If I installed that in my shoe, it would had made it more expensive and I wanted it to be accessible for everyone so I am not doing that. It is a cheaper shoe, and I wanted it that way, so I could make it more accessible for people.

What goes on in your head during clutch/ pressure situations?

To be honest with you, I just clear my mind. Most of the time I am probably trying to focus on the moment, not trying to have any worries, not worried about making or not making shots. I just go out there and make something happen and just live with if I make the shot or not. I think I have a lot of confidence because i am not afraid to fail in those late-game pressure situations.

What do you think of Nicolas Batum? And how would you describe your relationship on and off the court with him?

He is one of my favourite team mates, really selfless, does a lot of things our team needs. He can score if that’s what we need, he is always active on rebounding, making plays and defending. He is a big part of our team and off the court he is a quiet guy. He is one of those team mates that you like to have around, one of those guys who you appreciate as a team mate and as a person.

How important is Joel Freeland to the Blazers’ success?

Joel is a lot more important than people think he is. He is one of those guys who in practice is constantly challenging us. He is competing with you and is one of our better defenders. Every time Joel gets into a game, you know what you going to get from him. Anytime you have a guy like that you know, it is very comforting as a team mate and as a coach.

Thanks a lot for your time, Dame!

My pleasure!